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Colaborativa La Milpa

EIN 20-8303608 · Asheville, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To activate, build capacity, and support community-based organizations to to ensure their impact and sustainability.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
10.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
18
Volunteers
550
Highest pay
$51,960, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 89% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $2.4 million spent. Pre-tropical storm Helene, Colaborativa La Milpa staff provided organizational development coaching, grant writing, and fiscal oversight and management to our members. After Helene, our large program and office space became a receiving and distribution hub, where all collective members collaborated with community organizations and coordinated over 800 volunteers to provide food, supplies, water, and medicine to low income areas around Buncombe County. We opened an outdoor free mercadito(market) three afternoons per week in the center of the Emma community, moving it indoors as temperatures dropped. We reached over 40,000 people with disaster relief. CLMs program, Consulta Tu Compa provided case management, resource referral and accompaniment in Spanish and English. They assisted with 380 FEMA applications post-Helene.
  2. El Telar supported a network of 47 community educators and home-based childcare providers with professional training and educational resources. PODER facilitated community-led development and advocacy to prevent gentrification and displacement and provided technical assistance and lending to affordable housing, worker and real estate cooperatives. In 2024, they launched a workforce development initiative for long-term economic resiliency. Raices Emma Erwin provided Latine cultural arts afterschool and summer camp programs for children and youth, hosted 3 community events, and a dance performance program for ages 14-20, Ballet Folklorico Raices. These dancers performed twice in 2024 with the internationally renowned Folkmoot Festival.
  3. Ma hnakihu Language Preservation Project leads community workshops and classes for children, youth and adults in the Indigenous hnahnu language and culture. They convened traditional dance and musical rehearsals monthly and coordinated performances. In 2024, their 4th annual Celebrating our Cultures festival hosted 400 attendees. CIMA: supported community members to become informed, exercise civic engagement, to further develop their political analysis. They engaged with children, families, high school and college students, led a non-partisan voter registration campaign, provided education workshops, and transportation to Raleigh for citizen lobby day.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.